The things we do for love. (17 page)

Chapter 21.

So, it was at six o’clock sharp that Adam knocked on Cassie’s door. Not two seconds before not two seconds after. But dead on the dot.

She had just been putting the finishing touches on her outfit and popping a lip gloss into her bag and a little bit of money just in case she might need it.

She had put on the dress that Adam had suggested, but only because she had nothing else that would be suitable and besides, it looked good on her too. Well that’s what she told herself.

The truth was that if she hadn’t then Adam would have frog marched her back upstairs and redressed her. No, really he would.

Adam had picked the dress out for her on one of their little shopping trips. She hadn’t wanted to buy it, opting for some-thing with a little more coverage, and a less eye catching colour.

But Adam had insisted and when it had looked as though he was not going to get his way he had pretended to have a very loud meltdown in the shop.

So, because she had wanted to end her embarrassment she had bought this one instead of the one she had picked. Adam had been right of course, but then he always was.

It was a midnight blue shimmering dress that was simply cut with bold shoulder straps and a low cut neckline that revealed Cassie’s cleavage, of which there was plenty when strapped into such a tight dress.

It was cinched in at the waist which accentuated her hourglass figure before the material glided over her perky round bottom and down her legs to stop just above her knees. She teamed it with blue heeled shoes and a small clutch bag.

She popped in her house keys and grabbed a shawl from the wardrobe before leaving her bedroom and going down the stairs just as her doorbell chimed.

“You look fantastic.” Adam told her with a smile.

“Thank you.” She accepted the praise.

“You got everything? House keys.”

“In my bag.”

“Good let’s go.” And Adam put an arm round her waist and scooped her across the threshold and outside as he closed her front door behind them. She was then pulled along to the car.

“Hey Joe.” She called out in greeting as Joe got out of the car.

“Hiya curvy ker.” He greeted as he hugged her.

“I missed you at diner last night.” She told him.

“Sorry, I had work.” And he pulled a face at her. Joe was a tall man, over six foot. Very good looking with high cheekbones and blonde unruly hair.

“I can sit in the back.” She told him as he stepped aside and opened the door to the backseat.

“No, go on.” He ushered her to the passenger seat and closed the door behind her. She shook her head, always the perfect gentleman.

Adam got into the driver’s seat and then without any fuss or flaff they were driving away.

“So, this kiss.” Adam said straight away, diving in like a bull in a china shop sporting a sledge hammer.

“Adam.” She gasped in shock.

“I told Joe already.” She was informed. Of course he had, Adam was such a gossip.

“Yeah don’t mind me curvy ker.” Joe called over. She smiled at the use of her nickname. A name Joe had dubbed her with at university.

There had been two people with the name Cassie in their class and the other Cassie had not been very nice and so Joe had dubbed her kicking ker.

Somehow she had become curly ker until Joe had made a slip one day and had called her curvy instead of curly and it had stuck, unfortunately.

“So the kiss.” Adam said impatiently as he indicated and turned the car.

“It was just a kiss.” She said, trying to dismiss it.

“An air kiss, A peck on the cheek, on the lips.”

“On the lips.”

“Ooh.” Adam said. “A short kiss or a long kiss?” He continued.

“Adam.” She complained. She really did not want to talk about this.

“Come on, spill. Or I will stop the car and hold you down while Joe tickles you until you talk.” Cassie laughed.

“Not short, not long.” She said.

“Were there tongues involved?”

“Oh that’s enough. Joe tell him.” She moaned to Joe.

“Leave her alone you big bully.” Joe told Adam.

“Thank you Joe.” She said.

“Don’t mention it.” And then he leant closer to the back of her chair. “So was there.” she giggled.

“There may have been a little tongue action.”

“See didn’t I tell you.” He said to Cassie and then to Joe. “I said didn’t I?”

“Yes you did.” Joe confirmed.

“And I am never wrong. So, how was it?” he asked her now.

“I am not going to discuss it with you.” Cassie said as she felt her face growing warm.

“You are no friend at all.” Adam moaned. “Was it good?” He asked again.

“Yes, okay. Yes, it was nice.” She gave in.

“Nice.” Adam exclaimed. “Nice is like the kiss of death.”

“Yeah nice is for couples that break up.” Joe said from the back seat.

“Joe’s right.” Adam agreed.

“Okay so it was better than nice.” She finally conceded. She knew he would keep on until she told him everything.

“How much better than nice?”

“It was very good.”

“Lip smacking good or jump his bones good?” Adam continued the Spanish inquisition.

“I... I am not going to answer that.” She told him. She watched as Adam look in the rear view mirror at Joe and then both of them said in unison.

“Jump his bones good.”

“How in the world have I managed to stay friends with the two of you?” She asked shaking her head.

“Because you love us.” Adam suggested.

“Because we don’t leave you alone.” Joe added.

“Yeah, if you tried to unfriend us we would stalk you.” Adam warned her.

“I have no doubts that you would too.” She agreed with them.

“So, when are you seeing him again?” Adam asked her.

“I have no idea. I didn’t arrange anything.” She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat and it did not go unnoticed.

“Why not?”

“Because…” she shrugged.

“Because.” She huffed.

“Just because.” She tried again.

“Just because what…?” Adam asked her.

“I slapped him.” She said and everyone fell silent for a long moment.

“Why would you do that?” Adam wailed at her.

“I don’t know. We were talking and then he grabbed me and then he kissed me and then...”

“And then you just slapped him.”

“Well, the kiss went on and on and it was very… and his tongue… and then I… so I slapped him. It was just a heat of the moment instinct.”

“And then you…?” Joe prompted her.

“Then I what?”

“You said. It was very, and his tongue, and then I. Then you what?” Joe elaborated for her.

“O, Well I mean.” She stopped. “That is to say that I…” she gave a delicate cough and wriggled in her seat.

“You got horny and didn’t know how to handle it.” Adam suggested.

“Adam.” She exclaimed.

“You wanted more than a kiss.” Joe suggested.

“See why can’t you talk more like Joe.” Cassie complained.

“I tell it as it is. He kissed you, it turned you on. You got horny to the point that you were gagging for it. You didn’t know how to handle that so you became defensive and you slapped him like some Victorian virgin protecting herself from getting pricked before her wedding day.”  She didn’t like the way he said it but, it was accurate at least.

“Yeah,” she sighed and fell silent.

“You ain’t never gonna get any if you act that way.” Adam admonished her, taking on a fatherly tone with her.

“Any what?” she frowned.

“Sex, sweet loving, fornication, how’s-your-father, Intimate relations.”

“How’s-your-father?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

“Fine last time I spoke to him. You spoke to yours yet?”

“No.”

“You should think about it.”

“Why, I already have too many people filling that role.”

“Joe and I are just looking out for you.”

“I know.”

“Just give it some thought. Just don’t be emigrating out there. I would miss you.” Adam told her firmly.

“Yes sir.”

“We’re here.” He announced and Cassie looked out the window. On her right was the impressive building of the tower of London and as they turned round the corner the pavilion came into view.

“Wow.” She said. It even had a red carpet leading up to the door. A red carpet. She shook her head in bemusement. A red carpet, for heaven’s sake.

Chapter 22.

The evening had been fantastic. It was the only word for it. The Pavilion had been gorgeous, the room inside had been decked out in blue’s and purple’s with its large balcony windows at one end of the room overlooking the tower of London that had also been lit with blue and purple lighting.

It was all very atmospheric and gothic. There had been lots of champagne, not that she had drunk more than one glass.

And when they had all been led into the main dining room, with twinkling lights in the ceiling and a dance floor up at the other end Cassie had stood with her mouth open.

Well, Until Adam had nudged her with his elbow. She had promptly apologised for embarrassing him and he had laughed at her and told her that she had not embarrassed him and that he was glad that she was enjoying herself.

Now Cassie sat next to Adam on her left side with Joe sitting next to him and was pleasantly full with quail and calamari and some sort of potato based dish that she had not been able to pronounce at all.

But, Adam had told her with an air of authority, that that was all the more reason to try it.

And it had all been perfectly finished with a crisp chocolate confection that had been the best she had ever tasted. It had been a wonderful evening and Cassie had enjoyed herself immensely. More than she thought she would.

“More wine.” She heard Adam ask her.

“Oh, oh. No.” She said but Adam was already pouring out some more. It sploshed in her glass and she grimaced as she watched Adam fill it almost to the brim.

“I wasn’t asking. I was telling. Live a little dangerously Cass my darling.” Adam invited.

“My head is already buzzing.” She complained.

“What on one glass of wine.” Adam exclaimed,

“And a glass of champagne.” She reminded him as she picked up her glass and took a sip before placing it back down.

“Yes, let’s not forget the glass of champagne.” Adam commented dryly and she looked around at him but Adam was looking somewhere past her shoulder rather than at her.

He was smiling, well, grinning stupidly from ear to ear. She frowned and, unable to stop herself she turned in her seat to see what he had spotted.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked onto Luke Pearson’s gaze. How long had he been watching her? Luke raised his glass to her in a salute and she gave a nod of acknowledgment and an awkward little smile before turning back in her seat. “How…” she stopped and Adam leaned in closer to her.

“How long has he been watching you?” Adam guessed the question that she had been about to ask. “Since he spotted you out in the reception when we were enjoying the rather nice champagne.” Adam supplied helpfully.

Cassie’s heart sank, that long? The champagne had been on trays as they had come into the venue at the start of the evening.

She had only just managed to get through the door before she had found a glass in her hand. Great, that had been a couple of hours ago.

“And you knew and didn’t say anything.” She complained to him. Some friend he was.

“It would have made you self-conscious. I was doing you a favour.” He shrugged. “Besides it was nice watching him enjoying himself. He’s had a nice little smile on his lips all evening as he’s taken in every movement you have made.” Adam wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “In much the same way as at the restaurant yesterday.”

“He wasn’t.” Cassie wriggled in her seat.

“Oh but he was.” Adam told her, a twinkle in his eye and she stuck her tongue out at him as she playfully slapped his arm. Adam looked back over her shoulder.

“Stop staring at him.” She said as she reached for her glass again and took a large swig of the stuff and then for good measure took a huge gulp of it.

“Would you like to dance?” Adam said suddenly and then stood up abruptly and then he pulled her to her feet before she could say anything.

Cassie almost had to run to keep up with him as he tugged on her hand as she trailed on behind him.

“Adam, the dance floor is that way.” She told him, quite unnecessarily. It wasn’t as though they could miss it.

“I know. We are taking a detour to the dance floor.” He told her.

Yes, a detour right past Luke Pearson by the looks of things. Cassie tried to slow down but Adam just pulled harder. She leant her body back a little to add more weight but Adam leant his body forward to counteract it.

“Adam please.” She tried to beg but then they were there and she had no choice but to fall silent.

“Luke, I thought it was you.” Adam greeted and she watched Luke stand up and take the hand that Adam offered. “Ooh, that’s still a firm grip you got there. I do hope you have been enjoying yourself this evening.” Adam asked, he failed to keep the warm humour from his voice, or the gentle teasing note.

“Yes thank you. And you.” Luke asked politely. Cassie heard the note of amused sarcasm in his voice and she looked up at him. What was going on? There seemed to be something.

The two men were regarding each other carefully. She had the distinct impression that there was some sort of silent conversation going on, but she could not be sure.

“Oh yes very much so. I am always pleasantly surprised when entertainment comes from unexpected quarters.” Adam told him before he looked in Cassie’s direction.

“I was just going to whirl Cassie round the dance floor.” Adam informed Luke. “I didn’t want to really but she insisted.”

“U.” She squeaked as she stared open mouthed at him. That’s not what happened.

“That sounds like a good idea.” Luke agreed.

“I am glad you think so. Do you mind?” Adam raised an eyebrow at him.

“I wouldn’t mind at all.”

“Excuse me?” Cassie said as she looked sharply at her friend. Adam turned to give her a cheeky grin.

“You will thank me later. I have two left feet.” He said. That was another lie and she knew it.

“What are you on about?” She had obviously missed a part of the conversation. Adam turned back to Luke.

“It would be awfully good of you to take her off my hands.” He said now. Cassie felt herself blush. What was she, a juicy steak or something? She suddenly had the feeling that she was surrounded by wolves.

“I would be honoured.” She heard Luke saying.

“Adam.” Cassie tried to warn him but he just wasn’t listening to her at all.

“I was going to do it, of course. But, I need to cleanse my chakras before I can dance with even a modicum of authenticity.” He told Luke.

And, if Cassie had not been so embarrassed she would have marvelled at how he managed to say that with such a serious look on his face.

Modicum of authenticity? She was going to kill him. Or perhaps, she should cleanse his chakras for him?

Cassie put her hands on her hips as she regarded him. Could she get away with kicking his shin? She wondered.

“Would you care to dance.” Luke asked Cassie and she turned her head to look at him, almost jumping out of her skin as she looked up at Luke as though he were some hideous beast.

“I…” she stopped.

“Take that as a yes. Cassie has trouble stringing sentences together that consists of more than one word.” And then Adam grabbed her shoulders, whirled her round to face Luke fully and then pushed her at him with force.

She slammed hard up against Luke, so hard that it knocked the air out of her lungs. Luke reacted quickly, his arm coming round her waist to hold her tight up against him.

“Ouch, you’re hard.” She said and then wished the floor could open up and swallow her whole as mortifying colour swept her face.

“Well, one can only hope.” She heard Adam chuckling from behind her and Luke looked down at her. A strange look on his face. She could smell his aftershave and feel the heat of his body against hers.

“That’s not what I meant.” She tried and then Luke gave her a lop sided grin that had her heartbeat dancing around under her rib cage.

“Pity.” Adam said. “I’ll catch you two kiddies later. Have fun on the dance floor and don’t hurry back.” And then he was gone.

“Interesting choice of friend you have.” Luke told her.

“How do you know he’s not my boyfriend?” she asked him. Though if he had been it would have made this even more… and it was already that, as it was.

“I thought he was last night, but I can see he’s… with someone.” Of course he could.

“We met in uni.” She told him.

“And he’s been with you ever since.” Luke finished for her.

“I’ve tried shaking him but…” She shrugged and Luke laughed.

“I’ve got one just like that.” He told her. “Only I have the misfortune of paying her wages.”

“That’s where you are going wrong.”

“I know. It’s a bit like don’t feed the animals.” She laughed. “That’s better. I like it when you laugh. Shall we?”

“Shall we, what?”

“Twirl around the dance floor. Unless you also need to… cleanse your chakras.” She blushed. “Though I don’t personally think there is anything wrong with your chakras. They look perfectly fine from here.” She blushed even harder and her mouth went completely dry.

“Um, yes. I mean no.”

“Which is it?”

“No, I don’t need to cleanse my chakras and yes I am ready to twirl around the dance floor.”

“Then let’s go.” And then Luke stepped away from her and with a hand on the small of her back he led her to the dance floor as Cassie tried to still the butterflies in her stomach and steady her heart. Nothing worked.